Grapple for oil-wells and the like



c E. REED. GRAPPLE FOR OIL WELLS AND THE LIKE.4

APPLICATION FILED IULY'ZI. |919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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C. E. REED.

GRAPPLE FOR OIL WELLS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2l. 1919.

1,375,320, Patented Apr. 19', 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, C. E. REED.

GRAPPLE FOR OIL'WELLS AND THE L IKE. APPLICATION FILED IuLYzI. Isle.

1,375,320. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

3v SHEETS-SHEET 3.

` /TIVenToH C. EHeed.

narran stares CLARENCE E. REED, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

GRAPPLE FOR OL-VIELLS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Application led July 21, 1919. Serial No. 312,300.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CLARENCE E. REED, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Houston, Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples for Oil-Tells and the like, of which the follow ing is a specification.

ly invention is particularly designed for recovering rigging or parts of rigging lost in oil wells, though it is not limited to such use.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the applianceV substantially on line 11 of Fig. 3 with the partsA in their open position ready to be' let down into the well.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in the position assumed by them when closed to grip the object. Y

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 shows detail views of one of the spreader members.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. l.

Fig, 7 is a bottom plan view of the jaws. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modication. Fig. 9 shows details of the jaws.

The appliance comprises a main tubular part A, which carries a spider or ring C in which are pivoted at D the' grapple jaws D. This tubular member A also carries a finder or contact member P whose screw threaded Vshank is freely slidable in the tubular member.

This finder has a head F adjustable thereon by its screw thread connection, and this head is connected by links E with the jaws of the grapple.

When the nder strikes the object it is arrested but the main Abody A continues its downward movement and this causes, by means of rod G, the relative lifting of the member H in respect to the wedge L which normally, is held against vertical movement on the tubular member by the cone B. The collar or member H carries wedge shaped spreader members K, which engage the upper inwardly curved edges of the upper ends of the jaws D so that these will be spread apart as the member H rises in relation to the jaws, and thus the lower gripping ends of the jaws will be moved inwardly to gripV the obj ect, and this may then be drawn trom the well by lifting the appliance.

rThe spreaders are toothed and the edges ofthe jaw members are toothed so that whenl set the parts will be substantially locked in gripping position. To loosen the grapple tonremoving the recovered body, the cone B 1s turned and run up or back y on its screw thread and then by tapping the wedge L by a suitable implement at the shoulder X the wedge is withdrawn and the spreader-s are permitted to recede inwardly and free the jaws from holding or locking pressure.

The cone B acts as a guard to prevent the upper ends of the jaw members D from catching against any protuberance from the wall of the hole.

The jaws as shown in plan'view arel Vsegments of a tube and the gripper faces are comparatively narrow and are centrally arranged in respect toV the segments. This substantially circular form of the gripper jaws enables it to be lowered into or removed from the hole with Vsubstantially the same facility as a pipe, and more so, so far as the upper and lower ends are concerned, which are turned inwardly to avoid catching on any projection from the wall of the hole'.

The wedge member L is splined to the main body A at M. l

The jaws may be of vthe form shown in Fig. 7, bottom plan view, and may be screwv threaded to take hold of a screw threaded Y pipe, or they may be as shown in F ig. 8, where they overlap resulting in coming closer together.

The i'inder member P may be adjusted in relation to the jaws so that the latter may afi be'made to operate and grip the object at different distances from the point where the finder contacts with the object so that the extent of grip may be regulated to suit the character, thickness or height of the object to be recovered.

The main body A is adapted to' be attached to a suspension member. In the particular form illustrated the main body j is screw threaded at its upper end for this purpose.

I claiml. A grapple for oil wells comprising a main body, a plurality of gripper aws piv-Y otally connectedl theretok intermediate Y of their length at different points about the same, said jaws being in cross section of curved segmental orm to provide a split tube-like body to conform to the bore of the well, a finder arranged coaXially Vwith the segmental jaws, spreader means slidable on the main body and coaxially arranged with and between the upper ends of the jaws, an operating connection between the finder and the spreader means, said main body at its upper end having means for attachment to a suspending member, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a grapple for oil wells, a main body member, jaws pivotally mounted thereon and of segmental cross sec' tional form, a finder slidably guided on the main body and arranged coaXially with and between the lower ends of the segmental jaws, spreader means supported by the main body between the upper ends of the jaws, a connection between the finder and the spreader means, said main body having means at its upper end for attachment tov a suspendingr device,

3. In combination in a grapple for oil wells, a main body, a plurality of jaws pivotally mounted thereon, a centrally arranged finder at the lower end oi the main body, spreader means between the upper ends of the jaws, a connection between the finder and the spreader means, and links connecting the finder with the lowerparts of the jaws, substantially as described.

Ll. In combination a main body having means for attachment thereto of a suspend! ing member, gripper jaws pivotally mounted thereon, a finder member relatively slidable .in respect to and guided by the main body and spreader means for the gripper jaws guided by the main body and connected to the finder to be operated thereby, substantially as described.

5. Incombination a main body, gripper jaws pivotally mounted thereon, a wedge member on the main body, spreader means 'for the jaws slide-ble on the wedge, and a linder to Contact with and be arrestedby contact with the object to be recovered said finder operating the spreader means, substantially as described.

6..In combination a main body, gripper jaws pivotally mounted thereon, a wedge member on the main body, spreader means Jfor `the jaws slidable on the wedge, a finderto contact with and be arrested by contact with the object to be recovered said finder operating the spreader means, and releasable means for holding the wedge, substantially as described.

7. In combination a main body, gripper jaws pivotally mounted thereon, a wedge member on the main body, spreader means for the jaws slidable on the wedge, a finderv to contact with land be arrested bycontact operating the spreader means and releasable means for holding the wedge, said releasable means comprising a guard to shield the gripper jaws from catching on the wall of the hole, substantially as described.

8. In combination a -main body of tubular form, a finder member relatively slidable in said tubular body, gripper jaws pivoted to the body and spreader means relatively slidable on the body and a connection between the finder and the spreader means for operating the latter, said connection including a cap or head having ascrew threaded connection with the finder and slidably engaging the tubular body, substantially as described. w

9. In combination a main body, jaws pivoted thereto, spreader means, a wedge splined on the main `body-iter setting the spreader means, and a collar screw threaded on the main body Jfor holding the wedge, said wedge being movable when released by adjusting the collar.

10. In combination a means for attachment thereto oi a suspending member, gripperjaws pivoted thereto and having toothed upper ends, slidable spreader means toothed to engage the teeth of the jaws, means for operating the spreader comprising a wedge member and means for releasing the wedge means, substantially as described.

1l. In combination in a grapple ofthe classdescribed, a main body, movable wedge means thereon, spreader members movable along the wedge means, thereby to be moved radially in respect to the axis of the main body, a carrier orsaid spreader members, jaws borne upon by the spreader members and a finder to contact with the article toV be recovered, said finder operating the said carrier, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a grapple of the class described, a main body, movable wedge means thereon, spreader members movable along the wedge means, thereby to be moved radially in respect to the axis of the main body, a carrier for said spreader members, jaws borne upon by the spreader members anda finder to contact with the article to be recovered, said finder operating the said carrier, and releasable means for holding thc` wedge whereby the latter may be released to move on the main body Jfor releasing the spreader members, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a grapple of theV class described, a main body member, a ring carried thereby, jaws pivotally mounted on the ring, a carrier member slidably mounted to move longitudinally of the main body, spreader means Jfor the jaws mounted iny the carrier, wedge means on the main body-for causing outward radial movement of the with the object to berecovered said finderspreader means, a nder and a connection main body having between said nder and the carrier, substantially as described.

14. ln combination in a grapple of the dass described, a tubular main body portion, jaws pivotally mounted at a point intermediate of their length and supported by the main body portion, spreader members engaging the upper ends of the jaws at points above their pivots, carrier means for i0 the spreader members, Wedge means on the main body for Causing radial movement of the spreader members-as they traverse the said wedge means, a nder guided in the tubular body at its lower end and a connection between said finder and the carrier, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aTiX my signature.

CLARENCE E. REED. 

